Wanderlist 324
From North African Hypnosis to Soul-Jazz Majesty
Every Friday evening, as the work week winds down and the weekend beckons, I settle into the studio at Urgent.fm with a carefully curated selection of sounds. This week's Wanderlist journey, our 324th adventure together, traverses musical territories both familiar and unexplored, from the mesmerizing rhythms of North Africa to the soul-stirring compositions of American jazz visionaries.
The backbone of this week's session reveals itself through four standout tracks that deserve special attention. Hamsi Boubeker's "M' Rahba" transports listeners to the sun-baked landscapes of North Africa with its hypnotic, circular patterns and traditional instrumentation. It's the kind of piece that doesn't merely play in the background—it transforms the entire atmosphere of a room. I discovered this gem in a dusty corner of a record shop in Brussels last month, and it's been in heavy rotation at home ever since.
Enrico Rava's "San Justo" represents the Italian trumpeter at his most contemplative. The track unfolds like a late-night conversation between old friends—intimate, thoughtful, with moments of both melancholy and joy. Rava's crystalline tone cuts through the arrangement with the precision of a master storyteller, never wasting a note, each phrase building upon the last to create a narrative that feels both improvised and inevitable.
As we venture deeper into the playlist, The Interpreters' "Time Is Of The Essence" emerges as a pinnacle moment. This track exemplifies everything I love about music that respects tradition while refusing to be constrained by it. The rhythm section establishes a foundation solid enough to build a house upon, while the horns engage in a dialogue that's both sophisticated and accessible. This is music that rewards both the casual listener and the seasoned enthusiast—a rare and precious quality.
Jon Hendricks and Oscar Brown, Jr. provide back-to-back highlights that showcase the profound connection between jazz and vocal artistry. Hendricks' "A Good Git-Together" swings with an effortless grace that belies the technical mastery involved. His vocal gymnastics dance around the melody like a hummingbird around a flower—darting, hovering, always in motion yet somehow centered. Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Laia Ladaia" follows with its infectious rhythm and Brown's warm, inviting delivery. These tracks remind us that before jazz became something to be studied and analyzed, it was music to be enjoyed, to move to, to live with.
Among the new releases featured this week, Los Pirañas' "El nuevo Prometeo" stands out as a thrilling evolution of their sound. The Colombian trio continues to push boundaries, blending traditional cumbia rhythms with psychedelic textures and experimental production techniques. Their latest album, "Infame Golpazo en la Jungla Mental," represents some of the most exciting music coming out of South America today—uncompromising yet inviting, complex yet visceral.
Slowly Rolling Camera's new release "The New Way" showcases the Welsh group's continuing evolution. What began as a project at the intersection of jazz, trip-hop, and electronica has matured into something altogether more distinctive. The track builds gradually, layer upon layer, like watching a landscape emerge from morning mist. The group's latest album, "Echoes," finds them refining their approach while still maintaining the exploratory spirit that has always been their hallmark.
Eddie Chacon's "Good Sun" offers a glimpse of his remarkable late-career renaissance. After decades away from the music industry, Chacon has returned with a series of releases that feel both contemporary and timeless. Working with producer John Carroll Kirby, he's crafted music that draws from classic soul traditions while avoiding the pitfalls of mere nostalgia. The song's gentle groove and Chacon's understated vocals create a space for reflection—a gentle reminder that sometimes the most powerful statements are delivered in a whisper rather than a shout.
The carefully constructed sequence of this playlist reflects my belief that music isn't merely a collection of individual tracks but a journey—each song setting the stage for what follows, creating relationships and revealing unexpected connections. The transition from Cleo Sol's introspective "Self" into The Interpreters' more extroverted groove, for instance, creates a narrative arc that neither track would achieve in isolation.
Throughout the show, we'll also explore several vinyl selections, including Nubya Garcia's "Set It Free" and Yussef Dayes' "Woman's Touch." There's something special about the ritual of placing a record on the turntable—the physicality of the medium, the warm, full-bodied sound, the subtle imperfections that remind us of music's fundamentally human character. In an age of infinite digital access, the deliberate choice to engage with music in this more tactile way feels increasingly significant.
As we navigate through these selections together, I hope you'll find something that speaks to you—perhaps a familiar favorite heard in a new context, or an unfamiliar voice that becomes a new companion. The Wanderlist has always been about creating a space where musical discovery feels less like an academic exercise and more like a conversation among friends, sharing experiences across time and distance.
So join me this Friday evening as we wander through these sonic landscapes together—from the meditative opening of Felbm's "Beaufort" to the soul-stirring conclusion of Eddie Chacon's "Good Sun," with numerous detours and adventures along the way. As always, I'll be there in the studio at Urgent.fm, vinyl at the ready, eager to share these sounds that continue to move and inspire me. After all, in a world that often prioritizes novelty over substance, there's something quietly revolutionary about taking the time to listen deeply.
Luister via Mixcloud
